Auguste Rodin | Horse Racing Free Tips

Desert Crown On Course For King George Return

Desert Crown (GB) is set to return from his latest injury setback in Saturday's King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco S. as last year's Derby winner is one of 15 runners still in contention for the £1.25 million Ascot contest.

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, the son of Nathaniel (Ire) stormed to Classic glory at Epsom in 2022 before spending almost a year on the sidelines before making his return in the Brigadier Gerard in May where he finished second to Owen Burrows' reopposing Hukum.

A further setback ruled him out of an intended Royal Ascot engagement but after working well on the Limekilns gallop at Newmarket on Sunday morning, Desert Crown is now on course for a belated appearance at the Berkshire track in search of one of the season's most prestigious prizes.

“He's going OK. He worked yesterday morning and he worked nicely,” said Bruce Raymond, racing manager for owner Saeed Suhail.

“He doesn't do a lot now, but everyone was very pleased. It was good to see him on the grass.”

There could be a rematch between Aidan O'Brien's Derby winner Auguste Rodin and the Epsom runner-up King Of Steel at Ascot. Auguste Rodin, who followed up in the Irish equivalent, is one of six in the mix for Aidan O'Brien, who could also be represented by Luxembourg, Point Lonsdale, Adelaide River, Broome and Bolshoi Ballet.

Defending champion Pyledriver will bid to enhance his fine Ascot record having landed the Hardwicke S. following almost a year off the track during the royal meeting, while John and Thady Gosden's Eclipse runner-up and Coronation Cup winner Emily Upjohn adds further spice to a race which looks like being a high-class renewal.

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‘Paddington Has Made Unusual Progress’ – O’Brien Positive Ahead Of Coral-Eclipse

Aidan O'Brien says that he is looking forward to seeing what Paddington (GB), the brilliant Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace S. winner, can do over an extra two furlongs in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday and says the colt has made rare progress this season.

Paddington provided O'Brien with a record 83rd Royal Ascot victory when slamming the 2,000 Guineas winner Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the St James's Palace.

The master of Ballydoyle went on to secure his 85th winner at the royal meeting before passing another important milestone at the Curragh on Sunday when Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) provided the 53-year-old with his 100th European Classic success with a hard-fought Irish Derby triumph.

O'Brien will be hoping for more big-race success at Sandown on Saturday and drew comparisons between Paddington and his most recent Coral-Eclipse winner St Mark's Basilica (Fr).

Both colts are the highest-rated sons of Siyouni (Fr), and it's their ability to quicken that marks them down as something out of the ordinary, according to O'Brien.

He told TDN Europe, “Paddington came out of Ascot really well and we always felt that he'd get further than a mile. I suppose what makes them different [the progeny of Siyouni] is the way that they quicken.

“St Mark's Basilica was the very same, he used to quicken off a good pace and this horse does that as well, doesn't he? The Siyounis are really able to quicken and Paddington is a very exciting prospect.”

O'Brien added, “Paddington has done everything we've asked of him so far and seems to be progressing with every run. We're very happy with him and hope he runs a big race on Saturday. We've been happy with him since Ascot.”

The Sussex S. at Goodwood had been mentioned as the most likely option for Paddington after his Ascot triumph but O'Brien has said that, given how well the colt came out of the royal meeting, connections were keen to explore the possibility of stepping him up to 10 furlongs for the Sandown showpiece, for which he is a top-price 11-8 favourite.

Like former Group 1-winning Ballydoyle-trained inmates Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and Treasure Beach (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), Paddington cut his teeth in handicaps before achieving success at the highest level, with O'Brien describing his progression as “unusual”.

On the decision behind running at Sandown, he said, “We thought he could do both [Sussex and Coral-Eclipse], really, and when it was when he came out of Ascot so well that we decided to aim him at the Coral-Eclipse.

“We can just explore a little bit with him. We saw what he did at the Curragh and at Ascot over a mile so we're looking forward to seeing him run on Saturday.”

O'Brien added, “He's made very good progress from run to run, I suppose you could describe it as unusual progress, really. He's just a very natural horse.”

Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) led home an O'Brien-trained 1-2-3-4 in the Irish Derby on Sunday and is reported to have come out of that scrap in good heart. The long-term plan could be to revert to 10 furlongs with the dual Derby winner for either the Irish Champion S. or the Juddmonte International, but first, a tilt at the King George at Ascot is under consideration.

O'Brien said, “We were delighted with Auguste Rodin. He's a great traveller and seems to have a great capacity. He's come out of the Curragh well and we're looking at the King George for him now.

“I know it's a little bit down the road but we thought that if we did go for the King George, then he could have a little bit of time after that and come back for either an Irish Champion Stakes or a Juddmonte International.”

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Irish Derby: Where Did They Come From?

The first, third and fourth from Epsom all meet again after the Derby form was given a boost by the imposing runner-up King Of Steel when winning the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot. Three sons of Galileo take on six of his grandsons, while five Aidan O'Brien-trained runners face one trained by each of his sons, Joseph and Donnacha.

AUGUSTE RODIN (Ire)
Deep Impact (Jpn) – Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})

Owner: Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Westerberg
Breeder: Coolmore
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

Pedigree notes: The Derby winner hails the final crop of Japanese superstar Deep Impact and from a family which is not short on speed, his third dam being the King's Stand S. winner Casandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}). Her offspring include Auguste Rodin's grand-dam, the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Nassau S. winner Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), as well as Tickled Pink (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), the dam of last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). Halfway To Heaven's repeated matings with Galileo (Ire) produced not only the brilliant Magical (Ire) but also the treble Group 1 winner Rhododendron, and Auguste Rodin is the latter's first foal. The one to beat.

SAN ANTONIO (Ire)
Dubawi (Ire) – Rain Goddess (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})

Owner: Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Westerberg
Breeder: Coolmore
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

Pedigree notes: The Dubawi-Galileo cross has yielded the 2,000 Guineas winner Night Of Thunder (Ire) and Horse of the Year Ghaiyyath (Ire). San Antonio is the second foal of Rain Goddess, who was second in the Irish Oaks, a long way behind Enable (GB), and won the G3 Snow Fairy Fillies S. Her grand-dam Virginia Waters won the 1,000 Guineas and was fourth in the Oaks. Winner of the Listed Dee Stakes, San Antonio was last seen finishing 11th of 14 in the Derby.

ADELAIDE RIVER (Ire)
Australia (GB) – Could It Be Love (War Front)

Owner: Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg
Breeder: Coolmore
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

Pedigree notes: Adelaide River's dam's sole win was at seven furlongs, with the best performance of her life coming when finishing runner-up to Alpha Centauri (Ire) in the Irish 1,000 Guineas. The mare is a half-sister to the American champion juvenile and Coolmore sire Uncle Mo, and this is her first foal. He ran eighth in the Derby after finishing runner-up in the Chester Vase and is unlikely to play any more than a supporting role here.

PROUD AND REGAL (Ire)
Galileo (Ire) – Simply Perfect (GB) (Danehill)

Owner: Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Westerberg
Breeder: Coolmore
Trainer: Donnacha O'Brien

Pedigree notes: Brother to Group 3 winner Mekong River (Ire) and Group 3-placed Simply Beautiful (Ire), his dam was a top-class miler for Jeremy Noseda, winning the G1 Fillies' Mile and G1 Falmouth S. and placing in the 1,000 Guineas. She was herself out of the G1 Moyglare Stud S. runner-up Hotelgenie Dot Com (GB) (Selkirk), whose half-sister Bianca Nera (GB) (Salse) won that same race. The winner of last year's G1 Criterium International, Proud And Regal was subsequently seventh in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. Improvement needed if he is to make his mark here.

SPREWELL (Ire)
Churchill (Ire) – Lahaleeb (Ire) (Redback {GB})

Owner: Mohamed Khalid Mohamed Abdulrahim
Breeder: Khalid Abdul Rahaim
Trainer: Jessica Harrington

Pedigree notes: Bred by Khalid Abdul Rahaim, who enjoyed great success on the track with his dam Lahaleeb (Ire), winner of the GI EP Taylor S. Sprewell, who finished fourth in the Derby, is the highest-rated runner for the mare and races in the colours of his breeder's son Mohamed Khalid Mohamed Abdulrahim. Like White Birch, he hails from a family cultivated by Cheveley Park Stud, where his unraced granddam Flames (GB) (Blushing Flame) was bred.

COVENT GARDEN (Ire)
Galileo (Ire) – Inca Princess (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire})

Owner: Westerberg, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith
Breeder: Coolmore
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

Pedigree notes: His dam has now produced six black-type performers by Galileo, led by the juvenile Group 1 winner Johannes Vermeer (Ire). Inca Princess won a six-furlong maiden in just three starts and is a daughter of the G2 Ribblesdale S. winner Miletrian (Ire) (Marju {Ire}). The outsider of the field, Covent Garden won a Tipperary maiden over nine furlongs last October and was third to Peking Opera in the Yeats S. on his only start this term.

UP AND UNDER (Fr)
Lope De Vega (Ire) – Hibiscus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})

Owner: Go Racing Limited
Breeder: Floors Stud
Trainer Joseph O'Brien

Sales history: A 220,000gns Tattersalls December Foal from the Floors Stud dispersal, the colt was bought back as a yearling by Yeomanstown Stud at Book 1 and then reoffered at Arqana's Breeze-up Sale, where he fetched €135,000 in a private transaction.

Pedigree notes: His listed-placed dam is a sister to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Line Of Duty (Ire) and half to G2 Great Voltigeur runner-up Secret State (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Granddam Jacqueline Quest (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) finished first past the post in the 1,000 Guineas but was demoted to second for interference. Up And Under has Group 3 placings behind both Sprewell and White Birch. Still a maiden, he looks useful but this is quite a stiff task.

WHITE BIRCH (GB)
Ulysses (Ire) – Diagnostic (GB) (Dutch Art {GB})

Owner: Mrs C C Regalado-Gonzalez
Breeder: Cheveley Park Stud
Trainer: John Joseph Murphy

Sales history: 75,000gns Tattersalls December Foals; 48,000gns (not sold) Tattersalls October Book 2 Yearlings.

Pedigree notes: Bred by Cheveley Park Stud, he was bought by Tally-Ho Stud as a foal but didn't reach his reserve at the yearling sales. Subsequently bought privately by his trainer, he has since changed hands to Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez and has run with great credit to be placed in both the Derby and the Dante. His dam was a multiple winner over six and seven furlongs from a family which includes the G3 Princess Elizabeth S. winner Clinical (GB) (Motivator {GB}).

PEKING OPERA (Ire)
Galileo (Ire) – Bugle (War Front)

Breeder: Premier Bloodstock
Owner: Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg
Trainer Aidan O'Brien

Pedigree notes: His Stone Farm-bred dam is a sister to the dual Group 1-wining juvenile Air Force Blue and her first foal, Yee Haw (Ire), by Frankel (GB), is a winner in France. Further family also includes GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Flanders (Seeking The Gold). Winner of a mile maiden at two, then the Listed Yeats S. on resumption at three, Peking Opera was seventh last Wednesday in the G2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot.

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Auguste Rodin Bids To Provide O’Brien With 100th Classic Win In Irish Derby

Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is on track to bid for a Derby double at the Curragh on Sunday with Aidan O'Brien's Epsom hero heading a field of 11 forfeits for the Curragh showpiece.

If successful in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, Auguste Rodin would provide the master of Ballydoyle with his 100th European Classic success, but the colt will face stiff competition with the third and fourth home at Epsom still in the picture for the race.

O'Brien has five horses remaining in the €1.25m contest, which will be the first Irish Derby run on a Sunday since 2011, and the main attraction of the three-day fixture.

Auguste Rodin will be bidding to give Ryan Moore his first win in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and the rider heaped praise on O'Brien ahead of what could be an historic weekend for the trainer.

Moore said, “Aidan has shown for the last 30 years what an unbelievable talent he is. Genius gets bandied around an awful lot but how he prepares his horses and gets them to that day, to do it as many times as he has is a very special thing to do.

“I know the horse was disappointing at Newmarket, but there were reasons for that and Aidan always had complete belief in the horse. He is a horse that everyone always held in the highest regard from a very early stage.”

Auguste Rodin could also become the first horse to complete the Epsom-Curragh Derby double since Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in 2016. Among those standing in his way could be his own stable companions Adelaide River, Covent Garden, Peking Opera and San Antonio.

However, John Murphy's White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), a first ride in the Irish Derby for Dylan Browne McMonagle, and the Jessica Harrington-trained Sprewell (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), third and fourth respectively at Epsom a month ago, appear to be the biggest threats to O'Brien's Epsom scorer.

Harrington is expecting a big run from Sprewell but is realistic about the task at hand. She said on Tuesday, “I'm very happy with his preparation. He came out of Epsom very well and we've just slowly built him up. He's a very laid-back character and it's quite easy to keep the preparation going.

“Auguste Rodin is going to be very difficult to beat. He's proved himself to be an exceptional horse, to come back from what was a disaster really in the 2,000 Guineas.

“It was a great training feat for Aidan to get him back and to win so easily, as he did in Epsom. He's got to go out and do it again, but I'm presuming he'll be in good order. He's got it on the board and he beat us a fair way.”

She added, “You're always hoping. You don't go into those races thinking, 'I'll be grand being second'. I want to go in there thinking, 'I'll be grand if I can win'.”

Also standing their ground ahead of Friday's final declaration stage are the Dermot Weld-trained Knight To King, an impressive winner at Gowran Park on his debut, Joseph O'Brien's Leopardstown Derby Trial second Up And Under, the Donnacha O'Brien-trained Proud And Regal and the Ralph Beckett-trained Salt Bay.

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